The judge told the court that she had excluded evidence from a surprise prosecution witness last week - a former colleague of Ms Harnum who said Gittany had previously threatened to kill Ms Harnum and make it look like suicide.

"I cannot be satisfied on the evidence that Mr Gittany formed an intention to kill Ms Harnum at any point earlier than the short moments before her death, or that the offence was planned or premeditated in the traditional sense," Justice McCallum said.

"However I am satisfied that he must have anticipated the prospect that he would fly into a rage if ever she were to leave him.

"Although I accept that the intention to kill was formed suddenly and in a state of rage, it was facilitated by a sense of ownership and a lack of any true respect for the autonomy of the woman he claimed to love."

The businessman's current girlfriend, Rachelle Louise, who has fiercely defended Gittany and has been by his side for much of his trial, was not in court for the sentencing.

Gittany himself showed no emotion as he listened to the judge's comments.

Outside court, his lawyer, Abigail Bannister, said there would be an appeal.

"Mr Gittany does maintain his innocence and he does intend to appeal," she said.

Prosecution wanted Gittany to serve at least 20 years

The prosecution had called for a prison sentence of at least 20 years.

Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi described Gittany last week as a cold and calculating killer who wanted to punish his Canadian fiancée.

The prosecutor questioned character witnesses provided for Gittany, telling the court the sentence should take into account an overriding community concern about domestic violence.

Today Justice McCallum said she accepted descriptions of Gittany by character witnesses as friendly, polite, respectful and generous.

"However... that is plainly not the complete picture of the man," she told the court.